Where’s the Flaman man? Iconic Running Man out for repairs

The iconic Flaman Running Man on the treadmill near QEII has disappeared from his post. CTV News Edmonton's Amanda Anderson explains why.

Edmonton-area residents and visitors have been concerned for a long-time icon after some noticed the Flaman Fitness Running Man wasn’t on his usual perch.

Normally running on a treadmill outside Flaman Sales, Rentals and Fitness in Nisku along the QEII highway, the Running Man has been at his post for 30 years.

• The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App

Also known as Flaman Man, he was originally built in 1995 to advertise the fitness side of the business, which also sells agriculture equipment and rents and sells trailers.

“He’s been in Oilers outfits, he’s been in the Elks or Eskimos outfits, he goes into a Santa outfit,” said Tanya Brinkworth, the HR manager with Flaman.

“When he’s not on his treadmill, running here in Nisku, people definitely notice. We get calls.”

Because he’s out in the elements for nearly 365 days of the year, he’s likely the fittest person in the region, Brinkworth joked, but he also needs to be occasionally brought down for repairs.

“Occasionally we’ll have to take him down to do a clothes change, not just a change of outfit or for the season, we’ll have to change his outfit because it’s maybe not in the best of shape,” she added.

“We’ve had people call and are concerned, maybe the Running Man needs a new Oilers jersey, or stuff like that.”

He also needs some occasional maintenance, which is why he’s been absent from his post for a few days.

“He runs on a series of mechanical linkages,” said Travis Johnson. “His most common problem would be a broken arm, these links, they wear out over time and are fairly easy to fix.”

Johnson calls himself the Flaman Man’s doctor and the runner’s diagnosis will have him down and out for a while longer until a new motor arrives from the manufacturer.

The Running Man doesn’t usually have to come down often in the summer, though the cold winters can freeze the links and result in bent or snapped rods, but this year has been rough, according to Johnson.

One of the hardest things to do is changing the clothes, Johnson added.

“It probably takes about half an hour to get the clothes off and back on him, stiff links. It’s easier when your joints move.”

He says he enjoys working on the iconic Running Man, but would eventually like to build a new one that’s stronger and faster, but not yet.

“For now, he’s perfect the way he is, except for the motor,” Johnson said.

The doctor expects the new motor to arrive in another week and a half.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Amanda Anderson